Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer founded by billionaire Elon Musk, has announced that it will accept Dogecoin as a form of payment for select merchandise on its online store. This is not the first time that Tesla has accepted cryptocurrency as a form of payment, as the company briefly accepted Bitcoin in June 2021 as a way to purchase its cars. However, this option was later withdrawn due to the negative environmental impact of Bitcoin mining.
Dogecoin is a type of cryptocurrency that was created as a joke in 2013, but has since grown in popularity and value. It is based on the popular “Doge” internet meme and was initially created as a parody of the more serious and established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Despite its origins, Dogecoin has gained a significant following and has even been endorsed by Elon Musk himself.
Customers will now be able to use Dogecoin to purchase select merchandise on Tesla’s online store, including clothing and accessories. However, it should be noted that customers will not be able to use Dogecoin to purchase Tesla’s electric vehicles at this time.
This move by Tesla to accept Dogecoin as a form of payment is significant as it shows the growing acceptance and mainstream use of cryptocurrencies. It also highlights the growing popularity of Dogecoin specifically, as more and more companies and individuals begin to take the digital currency seriously. However, it is also important to note the environmental concerns surrounding the use of certain cryptocurrencies, as highlighted by Tesla’s previous decision to stop accepting Bitcoin.